10 Famous Buildings That You Absolutely MUST See

Just like there are places that are so beautiful and amazing that anyone should get to see them in person, so are buildings that you should definitely see. There are many beautiful buildings all over the world but some stand out with their amazing architecture, their history and their design. We have made a list with ten one-of-a-kind buildings that you should definitely see.

Petronas Twin Towers.

The first location you should put on your list is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is where you can find the Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers. Between 1998 and 2008, they were tallest buildings in the world. They are also the landmark of Kuala Lumpur.These beautiful towers were designed by Argentinian architect César Pelli and the style chosen for them was postmodern, simple and bold.

The project started in January 1992. At first, several tests and simulations had to be made in order to ensure the stability and safety of the buildings. The construction started in 1993 and ended 7 seven years later. During this time Malaysia also witnessed the single largest concrete pour in its history which lasted a total of 54 hours. The interior design was completed in 1996 and a year later the personnel moved in. the towers have a total 88 floors and are made of reinforced concrete with a steel and glass façade.

White House.

Another memorable building is the White House. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C., the White House has been the residence of every U. S. president since 1800. The building was designed by Irish architect James Hoban and it was built between 1792 and 1800. It features a neoclassical style. The White House was expanded in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson moved in. Two colonnades were then created and they were meant to conceal the stables and the storage.

The building was almost entirely destroyed in 1814, during the war. The British army destroyed the interior and charred the exterior. I was then restored and expansion continued over the years. In 1901, the West Wing was built by president Theodore Roosevelt who had all work officers relocated there. In 1948 the interior rooms were dismantle and a new load-bearing steel frame was constructed. After all these modifications, the current White House includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the Blair House.

Saint Basil’s Cathedral.

This is Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Its official names are Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat or Pokrovsky Cathedral. It’s a Russian orthodox church and it can be found in Red Square in Moscow. Also known as Cathedral of St. Vasily the Blessed, the church was built in the period between 1555 and 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible. It was built to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan.

The cathedral is situated in the center of Moscow and it was the city’s tallest building until the Ivan the Great Bell Tower was completed in 1600. The original building was known as Trinity Church and later became the Trinity Cathedral. It has 8 side churches arranged around a 9th. Then, in 1588, a 10th church was built over the grave of local saint Vasily. The building is shaped like the flame of a bonfire and it’s the only one that has this design. In 1928 it was confiscated from the Russian Orthodox community as part of the Soviet Union’s anti-theist campaigns and became the State Historical Museum. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.

Empire State Building.

Next on our list is the Empire State Building. Located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, this 102-story skyscraper has a roof height of 1,250 feet and stands a total of 1,454 feet high. The name of the building was actually inspired by the nickname of the city of New York (the Empire State). It has been the world’s tallest building for 40 years, ever since it was built in 1931 and until the World Trade Center was completed in 1972.

Now it is the third-tallest completed skyscraper in the United States and the22nd-tallest in the world. The building has a distinctive art décor style and a beautiful design. It has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, the Empire State Building is owned by the 2800 investors in Empire State Building Associates L.L.C. After receiving gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), it became the tallest LEED certified building in the United States.

Burj Khalifa.

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And since we were talking about tall buildings and world records, let’s now focus our attention on Burj Khalifa also known as Burj Dubai which is currently the tallest man-made structure in the world measuring 829.8 meters. The tower is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Its construction began in 2004 and the exterior of the skyscraper was completed in 2009. Officially, the building opened in 2010. It is part of a 2 square kilometer development called Downtown Dubai. This amazing tower was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, with Adrian Smith as chief architect, and Bill Baker as chief structural engineer. The name Burj Khalifa was given to the tower to honor the UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support needed after the project’s completion which coincided with the global financial crisis of 2007-2012 and that forced the government to seek financial help from Abu Dhabi.

Colosseum.

Let’s now move to Italy, home to one of the most famous and beautiful buildings in the world: the Colosseum. Originally named the Amphitheatrum Flavium, the Colosseum or Coliseum is the largest amphitheatre in the world. It can be found in the center of Rome, in Italy.

It has an elliptical shape and it was built by the Roman Empire using concrete and stone. The construction of the Coliseum started in 72 AD under emperor Vespasian. It was completed in 80 AD under Titus. A few modifications have been made later by Domitian. The original name, Amphitheatrum Flavium, was derived from both Vaspasian’s and Titu’s family name who were from the gens Flavia. This amazing work of architecture can accommodate 50,000 spectators. It was originally used for gladiatorial contests and public events such as executions, animal hunts or re-enactments of battles as well as for dramas based on Classical mythology.

Taj Mahal.

Another beautiful building with great history is the Taj Mahal also known as the Taj. It’s located in Agra, India and it’s a mausoleum built of white marble. The story of this beautiful building began during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He built the mausoleum in memory of his third wife whose name was Mumtaz Mahal.

The style chosen for this building combines elements from the Islamic,Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architecture. The Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. What is often omitted by many is the fact that, despite the fact that the white marble mausoleum is the most famous element, the Taj Mahal is in fact a complex of structures. The construction began in 1632 and was completed 20 years later. The tomb is the focus of the entire complex. It stands on a square plinth and has a symmetrical shape.

Sydney Opera House.

But there are also many modern buildings that can be considered to be an amazing work of art. One of them is the Sydney Opera House. Located in the center of Sydney, Australia, this is actually an arts centre. It was conceived by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. It first opened in 1973 and it houses multiple performance venues.

The building is hosting over 1,500 performances each year and it’s also one of the most popular visitor attractions in Australia. It attracts more than seven million people each year. The Sydney Opera House is administered by the Sydney Opera House Trust and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It features a modern expressionist design composed of a series of precast concrete panels that form the roof and that are covered in glossy white- and matte-cream-colored Swedish-made tiles. The building is 183 m long and 120 m wide.

Buckingham Palace.

And, of course, there’s the Buckingham Palace, one of the buildings that should definitely be in this list. The Buckingham Palace is the official residence and main workplace of the British monarch. It is located in the City of Westminster and it’s a symbol of the British nation.

The building was originally known as Buckingham House and it’s the core of the palace. It was originally a large townhouse that was built for the Duke of Buckingham, from where it also got its name. Built in 1705, the house was acquired by George III in 1761. It became the private residence of Queen Charlotte and was later known as The Queen’s House. The building was expanded during the 19th century and three wings were created around the courtyard. After that, it became known as the Buckingham Palace and the official royal palace of the British monarch in 1837.

Flatiron Building.

The last amazing building on our list is the Flatiron Building also known as the Fuller Building. It can be found in Manhattan, New York and it’s a spectacular skyscraper. The construction on the building was completed in 1902 and back then it was one of the tallest buildings in the city. The name of the building makes reference to its resemblance to a cast-iron clothes iron.

In 1966, the building was designated a New York City landmark and in 1979 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The site on which the skyscraper is located was bought by Amos Eno in 1857. After his death, one of his sons bought the site who sold it to Samuel and Mort Newhouse who then sold it to Cumberland Realty Company created by the CEO of the Fuller Company. This company developed the plans for the building. It was intended as a headquarters building and was named the Fuller building.

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